mal

times

adverb MAHL Common

Also means

just

Usage Note

mal is both the multiplication word (drei mal vier — 'three times four') and a softening particle that makes requests friendlier, as in Komm mal her ('Come here, won't you'). The casual mal often shortens einmal ('once').

Examples

"Warte mal kurz!"

Natural Translation

Wait a moment!

Literal Translation

Wait just briefly!

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